Fox Series 'Terra Nova' Finds Female Lead

EXCLUSIVE: After an extensive search, British actress Shelley Conn has landed the female lead opposite Jason O’Mara and Stephen Lang on Fox’s upcoming adventure series Terra Nova. The project, produced by Steven Spielberg and Peter Chernin, follows Jim Shannon (O’Mara), Elizabeth Shannon (Conn) and their 3 kids – an ordinary family from 2149 who are transported back 85 million years to prehistoric Earth where they join Terra Nova, a colony of humans with a second chance to build a civilization. Production on Terra Nova, from 20th TV, Chernin Entertainment, Kapital Entertainment and DreamWorks TV, is scheduled to begin in October in Australia. The series will launch in fall 2011 after a preview in May. While she has an extensive TV series resume in the U.K., Conn, repped by Gersh, Management 360 and UK’s United Agents, is virtually unknown in the U.S. She had a part in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and will next be seen in James L. Brooks’ How Do You Know.

15 Comments

I’m British so I’m familiar with her. I really enjoyed her work in Mistresses, so I’m happy to see her get a big break in the US. I wonder if FOX is banking on another Archie Panjabi though?

ferrara • on Sep 29, 2010 6:15 pm

Um, a futuristic family in Land of the Lost? Ugh.
As for Archie, there’s only ONE Archie!!!

Jon • on Sep 29, 2010 6:15 pm

Classical training and a restrained nature beat fake bobs and Botox every time.

Chauncy Gardner • on Sep 29, 2010 6:15 pm

Shelly is absolutely Brilliant!!! I’ve been waiting for her to cross the pond to grace our shores with her talent and beauty. As far as Archie Panjabi reference above… Two very actresses with different strengths… Can’t wait… Thanks Peter..

Chauncy

Chris • on Sep 29, 2010 6:15 pm

Can actors who are American book jobs! I’m so over underwhelming British and Australian actors.

Doug • on Sep 29, 2010 6:15 pm

Too bad there aren’t any actresses in Hollywood.

Georgia • on Sep 29, 2010 6:15 pm

About time, it makes a change as we have American actresses acting in British films. Good for you Shelley.

Sam • on Sep 29, 2010 6:15 pm

Absolutely fantastic! Love love her. I thought she was brilliant in ‘Mistresses’. Now i have another reason to look forward to ‘Terra Nova’. Awesome.

Chris • on Sep 29, 2010 6:15 pm

Seems knowing Anna Torv gets you far on Fox. She was in Mistresses, Orla Brady also in Mistresses was on Fringe, Shelly Conn also in Mistresses gets Terra Nova, and Mark Valley (although now divorced) got a Fox show?

brit prod • on Sep 29, 2010 6:15 pm

As someone who has worked with Shelley this is fantastic news. Shelley works really had at her job and is a terrific actor. Could not have happened to a nicer person. Go girl!!!

Peeti • on Sep 29, 2010 6:15 pm

Finally…..Shelley is going to be on American tv. I am a huge fan…..she is a wonderful actor and she is GORGEOUS!!!!

Jenny • on Sep 29, 2010 6:15 pm

It’s great that the show is hiring a woman of color for the role. Will she play an American or a Brit?

BTW, it’s strange to think of how many foreign actors make up large portions of ‘American’ shows like TrueBlood or Fringe. The majority of the cast of both shows aren’t American.

Lord Wednesday Hovis • on Sep 29, 2010 6:15 pm

Good to see another member of the excellent cast of the short lived Party Animals (BBC) doing big things.

paul stones • on Sep 29, 2010 6:15 pm

Congratulations Shelly. Know her parents well and know they will be very proud of her. She has come a long way from the little girl I remember in her Dads arms.

Sir Michael Audley • on Sep 29, 2010 6:15 pm

The Conn has landed…. Can’t wait to see it…! A talented actress with class… Any naysayer above who reads these posts then comments negatively is only jealous…